If things hold, Moises Alou would be the 800th Met and join Schoeneweis, Burgos, Sele, Smith, Easley, and Newhan for the first time on the All-Time Numeric Roster. Howard Johnson joins the ranks of Met coaches for the first time. Jose Valentin will appear for the first time wearing No. 22, while coach Manuel is in a new number, 53.

Sele as of Friday had not given 35 to Smith, who was out there again in No. 70.

Thanks to the many fans who reported Brian Bannister indeed upgraded his uniform to Major League status: He’ll make his MLB debut this week in No. 40, leaving aside No. 61. The final composition of the roster came together when veteran Darren Oliver 27 got the nod overPedro Feliciano 39 to be the bullpen lefty. The decision appears to speak as much to the Mets’ state of mind concerning the starting rotation than it does Oliver or Feliciano. On balance though, we were happy to see the Mets limit themselves to 6 bullpenners and provide a job for sluggy outfielder Victor Diaz 20, and though our expectations probably aren’t as sky-high as the new TV channel would have you believe, we’re looking forward to a better year, like we do every year at this time.

The final roster came together this weekend when the Mets coughed up out-of-options pitcher Matt Ginter 13 in a trade to the Tigers for a stashable lefty reliever, Steve Colyer, and revealed that veteran relievers Matthews, Heredia, Aybar and Hernandez had edged out worthy youngster Heath Bell; while Bartolome Fortunato went down with an injury. The 12-man pitching staff probably cost powerhitting rookie Luis Garcia a spot on the bench. We suspect there will be plenty of churn in the bullpen, where there’s too much age and many lefties, and that the need for a right-handed power bat on the bench will be apparent shortly, but today’s not the day to be pessimistic, so, um, Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets packed their bags and headed to Atlanta and Tuesday’s night’s opener, leaving behind a weird spring training. In the final hours it was revealed that Jose Reyes would begin the season on the disabled list, that seeming longshots Eric Valent, Scott Erickson and Orber Moreno would make the team, and thatJae Seo, Roger Cedeno and Timo Perez would be elsewhere. Valent, a minor league phase Rule 5 pick from the Phillies dressed in No. 57 for spring training; we’re waiting to see whether he gets more dignified number. It’s our guess that Scott Erickson ditches the 89given him and takes his customary 19 instead.

Since we last saw the Mets, trudging off the field as last-place embarrasments, it’s been consistently cold and nasty outside, the Jets fell out of the playoffs, the Knicks and Rangers sucked, the Yankees spent another $45 million; there’s armed guards in the Subways and a war is raging. Are we ready or what? On Monday, MBTN welcomes the following players to the Mets All-Time Numerical Roster (pending “official” game status): Rey Sanchez 10; Graeme Lloyd 17; Cliff Floyd 30; Mike Stanton 32; Jay Bell 44 and Tom Glavine 47.